The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of spinal instrumentation in haemodialyzed patients with native pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Spinal instrumentation in these patients can be dangerous due to rates of complications and mortality, and biofilm formation on the instrumentation. A total of 134 haemodialyzed patients aged more than 50 years who underwent surgical treatment for pyogenic spondylodiscitis were included in the study. Their mean age was 66.4 years (50 to 83); 66 were male (49.3%) and 68 were female (50.7%). They were divided into two groups according to whether spinal instrumentation was used or not. Propensity score matching was used to attenuate the potential selection bias. The outcome of treatment was compared between these two groups.Aims
Patients and Methods
It has been suggested that extracorporeal shockwave
therapy is a safe and effective treatment for pain relief from recalcitrant
plantar fasciopathy (PF). However, the changes in gait and associated
biomechanical parameters have not been well characterised. We recruited
12 female patients with recalcitrant PF who had a mean age of 59
years (50 to 70) and mean body mass index of 25 kg/m2 (22
to 30). The patients reported a mean duration of symptoms of 9.3
months (6 to 15). Shockwave therapy consisting of 1500 impulses
(energy flux density 0.26 mJ/mm2) was applied for three
sessions, each three weeks apart. A pain visual analogue scale (VAS)
rating, plantar pressure assessment and motion analysis were carried
out before and nine weeks after first shock wave therapy. It was demonstrated
that patients increased their walking velocity and cadence as well
indicating a decrease in pain after shockwave therapy. In the symptomatic
foot, the peak contact pressure over the forefoot increased and
the contact area over the digits decreased. The total foot impulse
also decreased as did stance duration. The duration the centre of
pressure remained in the hindfoot increased in the symptomatic foot
after shockwave therapy. The differences in centre of pressure trajectory
at baseline decreased at final follow-up. In conclusion, shockwave
therapy not only decreased the pain VAS rating but also improved
the gait parameters of the symptomatic foot in PF patients. Cite this article:
This study evaluates factors related to myelopathic
symptoms in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal
ligament (OPLL). A total of 87 patients with OPLL were included.
Of these, 53 (Group I) had no symptoms or presented with neck pain
and radiculopathy and 34 (Group II) had myelopathic symptoms. Gender, age,
and history of trauma were evaluated in the two groups. The range
of movement of the cervical spine was measured using plain radiographs.
The number of involved segments, type of OPLL, and maximal compression ratio
were analysed using CT and signal change in the spinal cord was
evaluated using MRI. The patients’ age was found to be significant (p = 0.001). No
difference was found between gender and the range of movement in
the two groups. The maximum compression of the spinal canal showed
a difference (p = 0.03). The signal change of the spinal cord was
different between the two groups. In patients with OPLL of the cervical
spine, myelopathic symptoms are not related to the range of movement
or the number of involved segments.
